River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-10-06

and fortune for herself and Tom when,
her genius cOnguering all prejudice,
she should be snapped up" by Lon
don manager, as, according to amateur
tradition, frequently happened to theiV
most promising members.
The amateurs, men and women, took
to Mrs. bearing. The women petted
and patronized her, and the men would
have gladly paid her considerable at
tentiOn had not Capt. Vernon mOnopo-
lied her entirely from the first moment
of his introduction to her. He had
constant opportunities of meeting her;
for the amateur season was on, and the
members of three or four other clubs
were glad to avail themselves of Mrs.
Bearings services on Capt. Vernon's
introduction. The married women
assisting" them, finding that the best
bait by which to lure the handsome and
distinguished-lookin Capt. Vernon to
their lat homes" was the presence of
pretty Mrs. bearing" invited them
both constantly. Soon Marion's head
became filled by confused phantasma-
goria. in which diamond earrings, plush
hangings. tropical plants. and cham
| payne luncheons surrounded our cen
trail ligure-a tall, dark man, with bold
! ewes and gentle manners, whose voice
saying ali sorts of things she ought not
/ to listen tO-fOrm a running accom-
paniment to her dreams.
Meanwhile Tom was delighted to find
how amiable and contented his wife had
| become. and how entirely she had relin-
/ pushed all notion of going on the stage.
She certainly required more pocket
/ money than before; but, as she explain
ed, she must dress well when Mrs. Car
/ ingtSn took her for drives. Tom ar
| ranged TO do some extra work in the
city, and was frequently detained there
until past 8 o'clock. On his return. if
she was not playing for charities" he
would find her bright and affectionate,
| if sometimes little restless in manner.
She would wait upon him for dinner
with a coquettish charm new TO her, and
when he sat by the fire afterward would
cling round him and gaze into his COM
mOnplaee cOuntenance with wistful-
ness in her eyes he did not understand.
And her husband remembering how
comparatively cold and passive she had
formerly been toward him decided that
= little harmless eXcitment was evident
" what she required, and often called
down blessings on amateur theatricals
in general, and the Macready Club in
particular.
At last one morning. rather more
than a year after Mrs. bearings intro
I sfrrass-,r. 80. 10 ha in,
| formed her husband that she had been
asked to play the principal part in the
performance at Richmond in aid Of
..sOme charity" What particular
/ charity she could not say; but hers was
/ an ignorance shared by most of the
/ amatuers. These little periodical trips
into the envirOns of London with a
party of friends were. however, much
in vogue with the Macreadys. and it
could at least be fairly said that there
was quite as much charity as there was
art in their performances.
| The change will do You good. dare
/ saw" Tom said to his wife, as she
helped him on with his great coat and
carefully avoided meeting his eye. "YOu
have been looking rather pale lately.
shant be back from the city until on
Tuesday; but after dinner I'll run down
TO Richmond and bring you home"
mo. don't do that, she said, look
ing up quickly. while the blood sudden
ly rushed to her face. MY part is
over soon, and we begin so early |
shall be home before IL. Mrs. Caring
ton is going to drive me back in her
/ brOugham."
Marion told falsehoods very badly;
but it did not occur to her husband to
doubt her. and sharp pang ofremorse
| shot through her as she saw how easy it
was to deceive him. She stood watch
ing his somewhat stout. thick-set figure
from the open door as he passed down
/ the street, thinking how kind he was,
| but vet how badly his clothes fitted him
compared with those of Capt. Vernon.
Tuesday, fixed for the Richmond
| perfOrmsA nee, came in due course, and
so excited was Marion, presumably
over her part, that she lay awake cry
ing all night. and came to breakfast so
white and red-eyed that Tom would
certainly have remarked it but for the
fact that the kidneys were so badly
cooked he could think and speak of
nothing else.
Soon after s o'clock that evening he
returned and was sitting down to his
solitary dinner. when the postman
brought letter directed 10 Tom Dear
ing in woman's hand quite unfamiliar
To him.
/ He opened il curiOusly, and had
I scarcely read it through when he leaped
from his chair with a face as pale as
/ Marion's had been when he had taken
leave of her that morning.
The letter was signed'' Adela Yer
nOn.' and the writer, who stated that
she was Capt. VernOn's wife. living
/ apart from him on account of his mis-
conduct. bitterly reproached Mr.. Dear
ing for his folly in allowing his wife be
publicly known as Capt. VernOn's mis-
! treSs.
Within an hour of reading it Tom
bearing was in the train on his way to
Richmond.
The first thing that met his eyes as
he reached his destination was pink
/ playful announcing the amateur per-
Torrance given in hall of the town in
aid of local charity. He glanced
down the cast; neither his wife's nor
Capt. Vernon's name was among the
list.
He gained admittanee behind the
scenes by representing himself as one
of the club; such of the amateurs as.
fussily self-important or happily indif-
ferent and chattering loudly. were col
lected ''in the wing" stared at him
superciliOuSly. Tom bearing walked
straight to Mrs. Darlington. who. in a
superb toilet, was waiting for her cue
al the side.
Mrs. Carington," he said in a raised
voice, where Is my wife,"
The lady thus addressed flushed with
establishment and indignation.
Dear me, Mr.. bearing, how should
know? Sh-. please don't make a
noise, am waiting for NV cue?"
lis she here tonight?" he asked
sternly.
mo, of course not; can't YOU see by
the program? You really must not
talk 80 loudly at the side. If you wan:
to see the piece | am sure NV brother
will give YOU a seat. Please take care!
| Won are treadinp on my train. and do